Weiss, Anderson help Panthers blank Blackhawks

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The second game of the Chicago Blackhawks'
four-game preseason homestand showed the team still is lacking
offensively.

Stephen Weiss scored the lone goal and Craig Anderson posted the
shutout as the Florida Panthers skated to a 1-0 victory over
the Blackhawks on Thursday.

One day after an impressive victory in Columbus to open the
preseason, the Blackhawks dropped their home opener vs. the Blue
Jackets, 4-3, on Wednesday.

The worst part of that game was the fact the Blackhawks lost
promising rookie center Jonathan Toews for two to three weeks
with a broken index finger. Chicago is hoping for Toews to
return for its regular-season home opener on October 6 against
Detroit.

Playing their third game in three nights, the Blackhawks looked
flat against the Panthers.

After two scoreless periods, the game's only goal came on a
short backhander from the slot by Weiss at 12:54 of the third.
Weiss split defensemen Brent Seabrook and Jordan Hendry before
flipping the loose puck past goaltender Corey Crawford and just
inside the right goalpost.

The Panthers received four consecutive power plays in the first
period, including three in the first 8 1/2 minutes. However,
Florida managed just six shots on goal, with none coming from
close range.

Former Chicago netminder Anderson had an easy first period,
facing just two shots. But he needed to make 23 saves in the
middle session and 13 more in the third to preserve the shutout.

Florida was shorthanded twice early in the second period. The
Blackhawks could not sustain solid pressure, but by the end of
both penalties, they had been awarded a whopping 16 shots on
goal.

Chicago finished with a total of 23 for the period.

The Panthers, playing their fourth game in five nights, also
failed to mount much offense. After recording only 13 shots in
two periods, they tried to open things up in the third.

Captain Olli Jokinen had onen of Florida's best chances nine
minutes into the period. Moving in from the left side of the
net, the Finn fired a wrist shot that forced Crawford to make a
good glove save.